Chapter 105

Chop-chop-chop! Chop!

Lee Soon-rye smiled as she watched Kang Jin quickly chop carrots with his knife.

“You’re quite skilled at handling a knife.”

“Really?”

“Did you have a part-time job in a kitchen?”

“No, I didn’t work there, but I’ve been learning to cook lately.”

Lee Soon-rye nodded with a smile at Kang Jin’s response.

“Yes, whatever skill you learn can be helpful later on.”

While conversing with Lee Soon-rye, Kang Jin continued chopping without missing a beat.

“Are you still living in that boarding house?”

“No, not anymore.”

“Then did you find a place for rent?”

“Well, actually…a distant relative left me some inheritance.”

Lee Soon-rye looked puzzled at Kang Jin’s revelation.

“But Kang Jin, weren’t you estranged from your relatives?”

“That’s right.”

“But inheritance from relatives? Seems like they still have some conscience left after all.”

Kang Jin laughed at Lee Soon-rye’s comment.

“It wasn’t them… It was from my great-great-grandfather’s sister’s grandson.”

“Great-great-grandfather? So that would be your grandfather’s grandfather, right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“The great-great-grandson of your grandfather’s grandfather’s sister?”

“That’s correct.”

Lee Soon-rye raised an eyebrow, puzzled by Kang Jin’s explanation.

“So you’re not related to him?”

“I thought so too, but… I’m grateful for his generosity nonetheless.”

“He must truly care about you.”

“Yes, indeed.”

“If someone who is only distantly related to you cares this much… What kind of people are your actual relatives?”

“It’s not easy raising a grown nephew, you know.”

“Well, of course…you didn’t abandon your nephew at the daycare center… Hmm! I mean, you entrusted him to them.” Lee Soon-rye couldn’t bring herself to say “abandoned” and changed her wording mid-sentence.

Kang Jin shook his head as he watched her struggle with her words.

“Everyone has their circumstances, after all.”

The mention of ‘circumstances’ made Lee Soon-rye sigh deeply.

“That’s true. Still, it’s good that you received some inheritance. Did you use it to rent a place?”

“I won’t have to worry about monthly rent for four years.”

“That’s great news.”

Kang Jin kept details about the store vague while concluding the topic on inheritance without lying. After all, it was true that he wouldn’t need to worry about rent for the next four years.

Mentioning that he inherited a small two-story building located in Nonhyeon, Gangnam could potentially strain his good relationship with Lee Soon-rye. It’s a universal truth that people often feel uneasy when their relatives acquire property, regardless of how close they are. Of course, knowing Lee Soon-rye, she might genuinely congratulate him. However… there is always the possibility of complications, and Kang Jin didn’t want to risk altering their bond.

‘And if she suddenly suggests marriage, that would be awkward too.’

Rejecting her daughter’s proposal would be embarrassing for both parties.

“Have some coffee while I prepare side dishes.”

“Thank you.”

As Lee Soon-rye entered the kitchen, Kang Jin looked around the restaurant.

Nothing has changed here. I guess popular restaurants shouldn’t change.

Graffiti on walls is part of the history at such places, and this kalguksu restaurant was steeped in it.

While Kang Jin surveyed the establishment, Lee Soon-rye returned with side dishes, kalguksu, and mandu (dumplings).

“Since you’re already here, have some food.”

“I appreciate it.” Although he had eaten breakfast earlier and it wasn’t even lunchtime yet, Kang Jin didn’t decline her offer. It would be disrespectful to refuse Lee Soon-rye’s hospitality.

Lee Soon-rye nodded as she watched Kang Jin take a large bite of noodles along with his side dish. “You enjoy your food well.”

“I always eat with gratitude for the meal.”

Nodding at Kang Jin’s response, Lee Soon-rye continued observing him before standing up.

“Enjoy your meal.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

After Lee Soon-rye left, Kang Jin started eating the dumplings and kalguksu. While he was savoring the noodles, Bae Yongsoo took a seat across from him.

“I found Choi Hocheol.”

“You did?”

“Yeah.”

“But why didn’t you bring him along?”

“He’s on surveillance.”

“Surveillance?”

“He’s tailing some bad guy,” Bae Yongsoo explained with a grimace.

“A bad guy?”

“Isn’t it funny though? What can a ghost possibly do by following someone?”

Kang Jin nodded at Bae Yongsoo’s observation.

“That’s true.”

“What should we do now?”

“Did he say I arrived?”

“Yes.”

Kang Jin paused briefly before taking another bite of kalguksu. He couldn’t leave any leftovers since she had gone to great lengths to make them for him.

Slurp! Slurp!

After finishing his kalguksu and mandu, Kang Jin wiped his mouth and stood up.

“Thank you for the meal, ma’am!”

“You’re leaving already?”

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Please take this with you.” Lee Soon-rye handed him a shopping bag, and Kang Jin smiled as he bowed his head.

“Thanks, I will enjoy it.”

“And since the president often talks about you, please come by again to say hello.”

“Understood.”

“Take care on your way home.”

Kang Jin nodded once more before exiting the restaurant.

“What’s this?” Bae Yongsoo asked while eyeing the shopping bag.

Smiling, Kang Jin opened it to show its contents.

“It’s side dishes.” He nodded at the various sides packed in disposable plastic containers.

“Let’s have dinner with this tonight.”

“Sure.”

“So where to now?”

Bae Yongsoo responded to Kang Jin’s question by starting to walk.

“This way.”

Kang Jin followed Bae Yongsoo as he led the way.

In an alleyway, Kang Jin encountered Choi Hocheol.

“Is that bad guy over there?” Choi Hocheol was looking towards a motel.

“Yeah.”

Watching Choi Hocheol hiding behind a signboard while observing the motel, Kang Jin sighed.

“It doesn’t matter if he’s bad or good; you don’t need to hide like this just because you can’t see him physically.”

Choi Hocheol paused before replying, “It’s instinctual.”

He continued gazing at the motel.

“We should capture him, but…”

Kang Jin glanced at the motel and spoke up.

“Hyung, hyung is aware that you’re a ghost, right?”

“I know.”

“Then you know you can’t catch him?”

Kang Jin’s words caused Choi Hocheol to bite his lip.

“I… I know… But that bastard is truly evil.”

At Choi Hocheol’s words, Kang Jin sighed and looked towards the motel.

“What did he do?”

“Do you remember the Suwon University student murder case?”

“Nope.” He couldn’t recall it clearly.

“In Suwon, two female university students were raped and murdered.”

“Two of them?”

“Yes. At the time, there was no evidence, so we couldn’t apprehend the culprit.”

Kang Jin raised an eyebrow at Choi Hocheol’s explanation.

“You mean, the perpetrator of that case is inside right now?”

“That’s correct.”

“But didn’t you say there was no evidence?”

Without any evidence, they wouldn’t have known who the culprit was. So how could they be guarding this motel knowing the perpetrator’s identity?

Choi Hocheol’s eyes turned somber at Kang Jin’s question.

“I wasn’t directly involved with the case…but I know who the victim was.”

“The victim?” Kang Jin tilted his head, prompting Choi Hocheol to elaborate.

“The victim is sticking close to that bastard over there.”

“Victim? The deceased…college student ghost?”

Choi Hocheol nodded at Kang Jin’s words.

“Seeing those women by his side, who were turned into what they are now because of him, made me feel incredibly guilty for not being able to leave. It’s unfair she was raped and murdered…and ended up as a ghost. Feeling so…sorry, I couldn’t bring myself to depart.”

“Why do you feel sorry, hyung?”

“Because I failed to catch him. Although I couldn’t save her life, I should have at least apprehended the culprit responsible.” As Kang Jin watched Choi Hocheol biting his lip while glaring at the motel, he grimaced and asked:

“Should we report this to the police?”

“Report?”

“Why not report there’s a serial rapist and murderer here?” Kang Jin paused mid-sentence, suddenly feeling uncertain.

This is me getting involved with ghosts… Will it be okay?

However, he quickly nodded to himself.

I’ll just follow my instincts. Capturing criminals is inherently good.

Kang Jin muttered to himself as he took out his cell phone.

“I’m reporting this.”

Choi Hocheol shook his head at Kang Jin’s words.

“Don’t do that.”

“Don’t?”

“We couldn’t identify the culprit due to lack of evidence. Even if you call the police now, they won’t act without solid proof.”

Sssk!

Choi Hocheol glanced at Kang Jin after speaking.

“And it might cause trouble for you instead.”

“For me?”

“If they ask how you knew who the perpetrator was, what would you say?”

“Oh…”

Kang Jin understood what Choi Hocheol was implying, and his eyes narrowed at him.

“You bastard.”

At Choi Hocheol’s words, Kang Jin turned away. He spotted a man around his age exiting from the motel.

“That guy… huh?” As Kang Jin started to question Choi Hocheol, his expression froze. Behind the man, he noticed six sobbing female ghosts walking alongside him.

“Six?” Choi Hocheol bit his lip at Kang Jin’s muttered comment.

“Yes, only six people became ghosts…”

“Only six? Then? Could it be?”

Choi Hocheol glared at Kang Jin’s astonished tone.

“Correct. Only six people became ghosts… indeed.”

“So how many did he kill in total?”

Choi Hocheol pursed his lips at Kang Jin’s query.

“Well then… that makes him a real son of a bitch, doesn’t it?”

Bae Yongsoo clicked his tongue disapprovingly upon hearing Choi Hocheol’s response.

“If that bastard hears about this, he’ll be foaming at the mouth.”

“That’s possible.”

As Choi Hocheol watched Kang Jin walk away with cold eyes, he stepped off the signboard and followed him.

“What do you plan to do by blindly following me like this?” Kang Jin asked.

Choi Hocheol bit his lip. Although he was trailing behind Kang Jin, he had no idea what to do next.

“If it doesn’t work…I’ll possess him and make him commit suicide.”

Bae Yongsoo hastily responded, startled by Choi Hocheol’s words, “Whoa! Don’t do that. It would definitely warrant the death penalty!”

“I’d rather go to hell after killing that bastard.”

“It wouldn’t send you to hell; you’d cease to exist.”

Kang Jin also chimed in upon hearing ‘cease to exist’.

“Hyung, even then, it won’t truly end for you.”

“Then what should we do?”

“The best course of action seems to be reporting it to the police.”

“We don’t have any evidence,” replied Choi Hocheol.

Kang Jin clicked his tongue at Choi Hocheol’s words. Choi Hocheol glanced at Kang Jin and continued.

“Do you know what percentage of murder cases get solved in our country?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe around 50%?”

Choi Hocheol responded to Kang Jin’s guess.

“Actually, it’s 97%.”

“97%? That’s quite high.”

“High?” Choi Hocheol looked sternly at Kang Jin.

“At 97%, that means…

“…the remaining 3% still become victims. Is it really high for them?”

“That… I suppose not.”

Choi Hocheol turned towards the criminal with a grim expression.

“Sigh! There have been rumors about this, but you’re right. In our country, 97% of murder cases result in the perpetrator being caught. And when it comes to high-profile cases, the arrest rate is closer to 99%.”

“High-profile cases?”

“It’s due to the sheer number of cases and limited manpower. However, if our police force sets their mind to it, there’s no criminal they can’t apprehend.”

“If they set their mind to it, there’s no criminal they can’t catch.”

“But aren’t there many criminals who evade capture?” Kang Jin recalled various news reports, causing Choi Hocheol to narrow his eyes.

“There are more criminals caught than those who escape.”

“Well, regardless of that, what’s your point?”

“In high-profile cases, unless the culprit flees abroad, our police force will eventually apprehend them. That’s how it works here.”

“No matter what it takes?”

“They have limited places to run and hide. Once you nab someone from their circle, like associates or similar types, information inevitably surfaces.”

“Then why don’t they catch all of them?”

“Lack of manpower and too many cases… Ah! Anyway, moving on.” Choi Hocheol continued, “What I’m trying to say is… this bastard’s case became highly publicized. Yet despite that, we couldn’t even identify him as the prime suspect due to lack of evidence.”

“So you mean despite trying to catch him before, you couldn’t?”

“That’s right. Even if we report it now, there isn’t enough evidence to convict him.”

Kang Jin pursed his lips at Choi Hocheol’s words.

“Then what do we do?”

Choi Hocheol’s expression hardened at Kang Jin’s question. They were pursuing this man, but even he wasn’t sure how to proceed. If their suspect was alive and they could involve the police, they would have found a way to entangle him legally, investigate thoroughly, and gather evidence. However, that option was not available now.

As Kang Jin observed Choi Hocheol’s dilemma, he glanced back at the target. An ordinary appearance with average build… someone unremarkable, like any person one might encounter on the street. The only distinctive feature was the six dripping blood-soaked female ghosts accompanying him.

Hell indeed…

Just by looking, it was clear that this man was destined for hell.